Victory, Oh victory to the Sun God, Who is the lamp to the seven worlds, Who by His rays destroys sin, Who destroys aches and sorrows, Who is lead to by the path of Vedas, Who is the Sun God to the universe, And Who is saluted by all the worlds, And also my salutations to Him who makes the day.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Baba we have passed through millions of re-births, seen countless parents, brothers, sisters and all relationships. Yet our desires have not perished, we live to eat, drink and make worry and merry. This birth and death cycles are all painful, Baba please kill our passion, enthrone Yourself in our hearts and guide us to triumph this cycle and take us to Your divine abode permanently. On this blessed day we start our prayers after reading the following ovi verses from Your Satcharita.

He said: "O Deva, what is this sport? Sitting here, you raise turmoil in our minds. A storm is raised and later you alone calm it down".

Baba replied to him: "Observe that the ways of fate are difficult to understand. I do nothing nor make others do anything. Yet I am held responsible for all that happens.

I am just a witness to the deeds that happen on account of fate. The Eternal Lord is the doer and the mover. He alone is the Compassionate One.

I am neither God nor the Almighty. I am not the Lord or the Supreme Spirit. I only remember the Lord and remind people of the existence of the Supreme Lord. I am just a poor servant of Allah.

He who abandons all pride, is ever grateful to Him, and places his entire burden on Him, will achieve his objective".

Baba: Nana, I would like Pooran Poli. Prepare it for Naivedya and bring it.

NGC: It is late. There is no cook.

Baba: Never mind.

Then NGC got eight Pooran Polies and side dishes and placed them before Baba.

NGC: Baba. Taste.

Baba waited a while. Then ants and flies settled on the poli.

Baba: Good. Take away the plates.

NGC: How is it you ask me to take the plates, without touching them? If you were not to eat anything, why ask me to prepare this? Unless you take something, I will not take away the plates nor eat food.

Baba: I have eaten the poli, take the plates away and have your meal.

Nana: You took the poli! When? What was brought on the plates remains just as it was. Unless you eat, I will not remove these.

NGC left the Dwaraka Mayi and lay down at the chavadi with hunger.

(Baba unable to endure the sympathetic suffering he underwent, sent for Nana.)

(Baba: Nana, at some time, I took your poli. Do not be obstinate. Take the plates away and eat,

NGC again went back in a huff to the chavadi. Baba again sent for him.

Baba: What, Nana, you have been with me 18 years. Is this all that you have learnt? Is this your appraisal of me? Does Baba mean to you, only this visible body of 3 ½ cubits height? Is that all?

Hallo! I eat in the form of the ant. I eat in the fly that eats. I take what form I choose and eat in the form. I have taken your poli long ago. Do not continue inexcusably obstinate.

Nana: Though you said, I understand (realise) nothing. What am I to do? If you make me understand it, I will then take the plates away and eat my food.

Then Baba made a gesture revealing his knowledge of some secrets hid by nana deep in his heart and unknown to anyone else. Nana was thereby convinced that Baba was his innermost soul (Antaryami) and therefore Sarvantaryami of all, inclusing ants and flies, etc.,

NGC: I will take away the plates.

Baba: Nana, as you see this sign that I make, you will see that I can take food (in those forms).

Friday, January 23, 2015

Once there was a bee who was young and strong and full of the hot blood of youth. One day he was flying blissfully from flower to flower, sucking nectar. He kept going farther from home, forgetting that it would soon be evening and time to return.

He had just flown into a lotus flower when the sun set and the lotus closed. The bee was trapped. He had a sharp stinger and could and could easily have pierced through he petals and flown away, but he was lost his intoxication. He thought, I'll spend the night here drinking nectar, and in the morning, when the lotus opens, I'll fly home. I'll get my wife and my neighbours and friends and bring them here to drink nectar. They will be so pleased! They will be so grateful!

Soon it was midnight. There was a young elephant roaming through the forest, and he was also very intoxicated. He was tearing down trees and ripping up plants and stuffing them into his mouth. When he came to the lake where the bee was revelling, he began to snatch the lotuses and eat them. The bee was still drinking nectar and thinking, I will bring my wife, I will bring my neighbours, I will bring my friends, I will have a great honey factory. Suddenly there was a loud crunch. "Alas!" the bee cried, "I am dying, I am dying, I am dead."

All the bee plans remained in the lake. All his friends remained in their houses. His wife was still at home. And the bee was inside the elephant's mouth.

Like that bee, we are going farther and farther in the world, imaging that we are making greater and greater progress, not realizing that we are leaving our source behind. Every day, the elephant of death comes closer, but we never notice his footsteps.

This world is transitory. Although it seems bewitching, everything we see here is perishable. The great saint Kabir said, "You are like a traveller who comes and goes. You accumulate wealth and the pride in your riches. But when you leave, you will take nothing with you. You came into this world with your fists clenched, but when you go, your hands will be open" In this world everything changes, everything decays. Youth becomes old age, health becomes sickness, and beauty becomes disease. Kabir said, "As you watch it, your life turns to dust." A time will come when every empire, monument, and city will crumble. There have been so many kings, emperors, and the great leaders, but where have they gone? Only the inner Self is eternal. Only the inner Consciousness will last.

Without meditation on the Self, without spiritual practice, the only thing you will attain is your death. Most people think that youth is a time for eating, drinking, and indulging in all the pleasures of the world, and that when their bodies have become old and worn out they can start thinking God. But what can you do when your body is old? Once your house is on fire, what is the use of digging a well? For this reason, the poet Bhartrihari wrote, "As long as your body is healthy and strong, as long as your senses still function, do something for yourself." Why wait? Contemplate the Self and attain it now. Know that the life is very short. You were not born into this world just to eat and drink and die.

Once Kavle Patil with his Mamladdar, B.V. Dev went to Baba and through Shama, wanted to know from Baba whether in a temple newly built by Kavle, he should reinstall the old image or bring in a new image from Vani, as directed by his own Guru.

Shama: Baba. Kavle Patil wants to know what he is to install in his newly built temple.

Baba: Let him place only the ancient stones that his family has been worshipping from old time and no new image.

Shama: What objection is there to a new image from Vani?

Baba: Act as you please, Shama. Install it or don't.

Shama: Please say definitely whether the Vani image can be or should not be installed.

Baba: If he wants that image, let him break off its arms and legs and then install and worship it. Do not question me again and again. I once went with a companion from village to village. He wanted to buy a cow. I said, "Don't". But he did buy it and brought it to a village. There an epidemic broke out and many died.

Shama, later in the day: Baba, what harm will arise if the image is brought?

Baba: Let him worship the old stones and introduce nothing new.

Shama: What is the harm in introducing the new?

Baba: (Angrily): I am speaking with my mouth and not through anything else.

Kavle Patil had no faith in Baba, but great faith in his own guru and so brought the Vani image to the guru's village. There plague broke out and many died. The guru (who had already received Rs.300 or Rs.400) more over sent a message to the Patil that unless he gave a registered gift of his land to the guru, the latter would curse him to immediate death. The Patil woke up, discovered the unselfishness and wisdom of Baba and wickedness of his own guru and installed only his own hereditary images.

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Baba why our life is perpetual struggle, perpetual dying worries until end. Baba please bless us to be cheerful always, rejoicing our life with radiant health and enjoying Your grace of supreme love. On this sacred day we start our prayers after reading the following ovi verses from Your Satcharita.

It is not good to argue; do not try to compete with each other. Always think of one's own (permanent) good and God will protect you.

Practising yoga, performing rituals, doing penance, acquiring knowledge, these are all the means for attainment of God. One who does all this without the grace of God, worthless is his birth.

If anyone harms you in any way, you should not retaliate. If possible try to oblige others ". This is the sum total of his teaching.

For the sake of one's own good and for the sake of the ultimate good in life, this is an all embracing creed. It's a straight forward path for all, including the high, the low, the women and the sudras.

Just as the grandeur of the kingdom of dreams turns into nothingness as soon as the person awakens; similarly, this world is just an illusion. This is his conviction.

His regular behaviour or disposition is based on the conviction of the illusory nature of pleasure and pain regarding the body. According to him these were wanderings of the mind, as in a dream. Therefore, he has warded off the illusion and reached the state of emancipation.

When he sees the worldly attachment of his disciples, his heart melts with pity; and he worries day and night how to remove those bonds.

His whole nature is one with Brahman. He is the embodiment of permanent bliss; his mind is without any doubts. He is the incarnation of resignation (denial of pleasures).

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Every new day is an assurance that Baba still has faith in us, that He is sure that we will make the best possible use of the precious gift that He has so generously bestowed on us.

As every new day dawns, let us remember Sai Baba and His great love, His great hopes for us. All we need to do is reciprocate His love and strive to live up to His hopes! And this is not really difficult

Let us love Shirdi Sainath Maharaj. Let us love our fellow beings, all creatures that breathe the breath of life, even as we love ourselves. Let us revere the One Supreme Self that animates all the Universe. Let us live and transformed into something beautiful and noble!

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Baba: (Not addressing the visitor but addressing a devotee X ) Go to Bagchand Marwadi and tell him Baba wants Rs.100/- and bring the money.

X (returning in a minute): The Marwadi says he has no money and sends his namaskars.

Baba: Go to the next money lender and ask him for a loan of Rs.100/- for me.

X (returning in a minute): He says he has not got the money.

Baba: Fetch Nana Saheb Chandorkar (and when Nana came)

Baba: Nana, I want Rs.100/-

Then Nana wrote a chit to Bagchand Marwadi for a loan of Rs.100.

The money was at once sent by the Marwadi.

Baba: All is like this in the world.

Visitor later on to Das Ganu Maharaj: Why did not Baba answer my question?

Das Ganu: He has.

Visitor: How?

Das Ganu: When others asked for money, it was not forthcoming. Nana Saheb asked for it and got it at once. Similarly the man who merely wants to know Brahman does not get it. It is he who is qualified to know it that gets it. Baba's answer is, "Deserve, before you desire ( Brahman)".

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Baba why do you give us wants and desires, if we succeed our delightness stays for a moment, otherwise we are gloomy, despair and sorrow. As soon as one want is gratified, another new one crops up and no end to our wants and consequently our worries, restlessness, anxieties and fear continues. Baba we pray to stop this ignorance and we surrender to Your Lotus Feet and submit all our wants, needs,worries and desires. You know what is best for us, give us the right thing at right time, until such time we pray and meditate on You. On this holy day we start our prayers after reading the following ovi verses from Your Satcharita.

Even in such a pathetic situation, Bhau chanted Sai's name. "Enough of this suffering. Even death is preferable", he cried surrendering to Sai.

He sent a message to Baba: "I am weary of bearing this pain. How many abscesses do I have on my body! I do not have the strength to bear this.

Throughout my life I have acted correctly. Why should I have to undergo this painful condition? I have never deviated from the path of righteousness. Why should I be punished and for what sin?

Baba! I can longer bear this pain on account of the guineaworms, which is similar to death. Instead let me die now. I shall undergo the suffering in my next life.

There is no alternative but to bear the pain. I shall have to take many more births. But that which is destined cannot be avoided. Dull-witted though I am, I realise it.

I will happily take ten more births, in which I shall undergo the fruits of my 'karma'. But grant me the boon of ending this present life.

Enough of this life. Release me from this birth. I do not wish to undergo this pain. That is all that I ask for now ".

Listening to this prayer, the Siddha-rana felt compassion; and for Dr. Pillai's satisfaction showered the nectar of mercy. Savour it.

Then seeing this utterly painful condition of Dr. Pillai, notice what the devotee's wish-fulfilling tree did to remove it.

This message from Dr. Pillai was brought by Dixit. Listening to this news, Baba said: "Go and tell him to be fearless ".

And the further message he sent: "Why should he be crippled for ten lives? He has to bear it out only for ten days; and we shall both share it.

When I am capable of granting liberation, material desires, or spirituality, are you being brave in asking for something meaningless like death?

Then the lady went with her husband to her lodgings and asked him what Baba meant.

Husband: Baba's words are mysterious. I cannot be sure I have made out his meaning. Probably he means something like this. The Jiva goes on reincarnating any number of times till it gets Sakshatkar i.e., sees or realises God. Baba is God. But people seeing him do not get full faith and do not see him i.e., feel him to be God; and hence they do not get Mukti. One must learn from the sastras, that essentially Jiva and Siva are one. You think yourself to be a Jiva is it not?

Lady: Yes.

Husband: Baba and the Sastras want you to regard youself as Siva or God.

Lady: No. No. I am a petty sinner-a Jiva and not the great God Siva.

Husband: No doubt that is your feeling. But Baba means that by constantly regarding yourself as God, your deeply ingrained belief that you are only a finite Jiva will be removed. This process continued, may be through numerous births and strengthened and helped by contact with saints will give you the firm belief that you are Brahman. That must be Baba's meaning.

(The couple again returned to Dwaraka Mai)

Baba: Mother, I have listened (from here) to all that your husband told you. Keep that in mind.

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Life has become very artificial, there is physical, mental and moral degeneration. There is wholesale devastation, divorce courts are increasing, life has become a matter of uncertainty, a mass of confusion, chaos and bewilderment, very stormy and boisterous. We are living in a clueless environment, not knowing what is going to happen. Baba You are our one and only Saviour, please save us against all the evils and make us useful, make us harmless, make us pure and make us a channel of Your Love. On this day, we start our prayers by absorbing Your advice mentioned in Your Satcharita.

Therefore, oh devotees listen attentively to this story of Sai's profound nature which burns all the sins.

This narrative is sacred and purifying like the holy water of the Ganges. Blessed are the ears of the listeners for they become the means to gain good now and hereafter.

Let us compare it with nectar. But nectar cannot be sweeter than this. Nectar will save the life but this story will give freedom from the cycle of birth and death.

People say they are powerful and they can do whatever they wish. One who thinks like this should listen to this story carefully.

If the human being is genuinely independent, then when he strives day and night to achieve happiness why does he gain only unhappiness? This is the story of existence!

Even if a person is on guard to avoid unhappiness at every step, miseries follow quickly in search of him and keep track behind him.

If one tries to shake them off they hold one by the neck; if one tries to brush them off they cling more. Vain is man's strife against it. It only debilitates him.

If a human being was really free, he would be completely happy and he would not have known even a trace of unhappiness.

Assuming he was a free being, he would never commit any sins and only accumulate his store of merits, thus enhancing his happiness.

But a human being is not independent. His previous births' deeds are attached to him, and the ways of karma are strange. He is forever a puppet in the hands of karma.

One tries to think of good deeds but one is dragged towards sins. Wanting to be meritorious, one ends up by being an evil doer.

Destiny plays strange games. Without any rhyme or reason, we can either gain or lose. Sufferings born of karma come to you as a disease

Only one remedy. "Surrender at Sai's feet. This is the only saving grace. He is both Mother and Father.

He is the compassionate mother of all, who comes running at your call, takes pity on you and picks you up in her arms, understanding the need of the children.

Even leprosy is cured by mere darshan. What is to be said about tuberculosis! Have not the least doubt. Go and surrender at his feet.

He grants whatever anyone asks. This is his creed. Therefore, I say, make haste. Take Sai's darshan.

The greatest fear is the fear of death. What else can there be? Go and hold fast to Sai's feet. He alone will make you free of fear ".

Thursday, January 1, 2015

All the insects, ants, the visible, movable and immovable world, is My Body or Form

I was the black dog.

I was the sickly sudra. I am in everything, and beyond.

I was the fakir who begged of you at Bombay.

I was the spirit you saw at midnight under the tree.

[I am Akkalkote Maharaj.] I gave you Rs. 2, Pitale.

Baba as a cat is beaten.

Baba to Hansraj, an Asthma patient: Do not take curds or taste sour things. But Hansraj was daily preparing curds overnight to drink it at the noon meal. Daily a cat drank it off and one day he beat the cat.

Baba: (to others, in the presence of Hansraj). "There is an Urphatia. a cussed, crossgrained man. I told him not to take curds. But he daily prepared it. Daily I went as a cat and drank it off, to save his life. Today I went again. Do you know what he did? He beat me over the shoulder. See here. (Hansraj looked and found a fresh weal on Baba's shoulder, though it was a cat he beat with a stick on the shoulder)

Baba as a dog and sickly Sudra:

Kasinath Govind Upasani Maharaj (K.G.U) who lived at Shirdi in 1911-14, prepared his food which a black dog was watching. Offering nothing to the dog, K.G.U. went to the masjid and offered it to Baba. Baba: Why did you bring it here? I was there.

K.G.U. : Baba, there was none there, except a black dog.

Baba: I was that black dog.

Baba refused to accept food that day.

Next day K.G.U. prepared his meal at his quarters and found no dog there. But a sickly Sudra was standing leaning on a wall and looking at the food. The orthodox K.G.U. drove him away from that place and brought the food to Baba.

Baba: Yesterday you did not offer me food. Today also you drove me away. Why bring the food here?

Our Beloved Sadguru Sainath, please accept our humble prayers on this Holy day of Guruvaar. Today is a very special day- starting day of the year. On this new day and the days to come, we may have to face difficulties. All that we are praying You is give us enough strength to face the difficulties, so that we can grow strong by overcoming all the difficulties - one by one , patiently. If we fail ten times, we will not despair. If we fail hundred times, we will not dishearten. If we fail thousand times, we will rise up and march boldly. We believe failures and difficulties are stepping stones to success. One who has faith in the God must pass through the fire of sufferings. Suffering is not misfortune. It helps one to grow. Suffering and pain open the door to wisdom. Blessed are thosewho suffer because suffering is the subsistence of spiritual life. On this special day of Guruvaar, we pledge to treat both happiness and sufferings equally and start our prayers by reading Your holy text in Satcharita.

O Guruvara, the One who is Compassionate towards the devotees, make haste and reach us. There is no respite in the worldly affairs. Free us from this cycle of births and deaths.

Our nature depends on our tendencies. Our senses are forever directed outwardly. Restrain us from the attraction of the objects of the senses. Introvert us.

In the ocean of worldly existence, we are tossed around like waves in a whirlpool. Extend your timely help and relieve us.

The senses run amok; evil practice overpowers us. Please dam up this unrestrained flow. Turn back the host of senses.

If the senses are not introverted, there is no prospect of Self-realisation. Without that, how can there be Supreme Bliss? Life will be futile.

Neither wife, nor son, nor numerous friends will be of any use in the end. You alone are the lasting friend for the final journey. You are the giver of joys and salvation.

Unravel the net of actions and sins and free us from its misery. Uplift the poor and the meek with the power of your grace, Maharaja.

Destroy from their roots evil tendencies and argumentative habits. Let our tongues get a passion for chanting the name, O pure, Sairaya.

Grant to me the ability to love you so intensely that I may forget all my resolves, doubts, even my body and home. Take away my ego also.

Make me ever remember your name and forget all other things. Remove the restlessness of the mind and make it steady and calm.

If you just clasp us, the darkness of night of our ignorance will vanish and we shall live happily in your light. What more can we desire?

He is Brhama, He is Vishnu,He is Shiva, He is Skanda,He is the progenitor of human race,He is the king of devas,He is Kubhera, the lord of all riches.He is Kala, the God of death,And He is the moon also He is Varuna

He is the manes, He is the Gods called Vasus,He is the gods called sadhya, He is the Aswini devathas, the doctors of Gods,He is the maruths who are responsible for breeze,He is the wind God, He is the fire God,He is the soul of all beings,He is the creator of seasons,And he is the giver of light.

He is the son of Adithi,He is the creator of the world,He makes us do things,He travels on the sky,He feeds the world by rain,He is the one with rays,He is the colour of Gold,He is always shining,He is responsible for creation,And he is the maker of the day.

He has green horses,He has thousands of rays,He rides on seven horses,He dispels darkness,He gives a pleasant life,He kills all life,He gives rebirth to those killed,He removes darkness,And he is resplendent in his glory.

He who keeps the golden source,He who cools down minds of devotees,He who bestows heat,He who is the source of light,He who is praised by every one,He who has fire within himself,He who is the son of adhithi,He who travels in the sky with pleasure,And he who melts cold.

He who is the lord of the sky,He who dispels darkness,He who is a master of Rig, Yajur and Sama veda,He who is the cause of heavy rains,He who is the friend of water,And he who travels over the Vindhyas swiftly.

He who gives heat,He who is of the global shape,He who is of the form of death,He who is of the colour of gold,He who heats everything,He who is in expert in knowledge,He who manages the universe,He who is of great brilliance,He who is dear to every one,And he who manages every event.

Salutations and salutations,To him who is fearful to the sinners,To him who is the hero,And to him who travels swiftly.Salutations to him who opens the lotus,And salutations and salutations,To him who makes men live.

Salutations to Him,Who is of the colour of molten gold,Who is of the form of fire,Who has created the world,Who destroys ignorance,Who is the subject of all that is loved,And to him who is the witness of the world.